NEWSROOM

Czech Republic joins Ecommerce Europe with APEK

Monday, May 05 2014

BRUSSELS | The Czech Republic-based APEK joins Ecommerce Europe, the European umbrella organisation for e-commerce associations and merchants. APEK is the 14th national association that has become a member of Ecommerce Europe and follows the recent joining of Netcomm Suisse and Greca (Greece).

APEK members represent 70% of Czech eCommerce turnover

Founded in 2006, Asociace pro elektronickou komerci (APEK) is an association of more than 300 companies and experts operating in e-commerce business in Czech Republic. The main objectives are to continously develop Czech e-commerce and to support members in professional education, legislation issues and communication with the Czech administration. The members of APEK cover more than 70% of Czech e-commerce turnover.

Czech e-commerce market

According to recently published facts and figures by Ecommerce Europe, the Internet is one of the fastest growing sectors compared to traditional sectors in the Czech Republic. It could be one of the drivers of the economy in the coming years. Czech online shopping has continuously grown in the past few years. It has yet not reached the levels of Western European countries such as the UK, Denmark and France, but is on its way to close the gap. Just over three million Czech citizens bought goods and services online with a total value of €1.8 billion in 2012. This equals an increase of 19.6% compared to 2011. E-commerce was projected to grow almost 19% to €2.1 billion in 2013. “In the Czech Republic the share of online in total retail was more than 5% last year and we expect that the proportion of Internet retail sales will continue to grow,“ says Vetyška.

APEK trust mark

APEK organizes more than twenty workshops per year, issues monthly legal and e-commerce newsletters and organizes studies relating to e-market and e-services for members. One of the main projects is a trust mark called APEK – Certifikovany obchod (APEK – Certificated shop). E-shops are tested by means of mystery shopping and service audits, among other things, and have to comply with more than sixty rules in order to qualify for the trust mark.

'borders will disappear'

“Just as is the case with the regular economic market, borders will disappear in the field of e-commerce in Europe in the future. All markets will unite and co-operation between national associations will be more and more important. That is why we are proud to be a part of Ecommerce Europe,” says Jan Vetyška, Executive Director of APEK.

About Ecommerce Europe

Ecommerce Europe is the association representing 5,000+ companies selling products and/or services online to consumers in Europe. Founded by leading national e-commerce associations, its mission is to advance the interests and influence of e-commerce in Europe through advocacy, communication and networking.